Comments on: We’re moving to Robertson! http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/ Expat adventures Down Under Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:45:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2051 Matt Mon, 04 May 2009 01:21:00 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2051 @Mark: Thanks for your comment - I'm glad you're finding the blog helpful. :) Living anywhere has its ups and downs, but on balance we're pretty happy here in Robbo. The plus points are the scenery, the peace & quiet, the lack of traffic, and the friendly people. The minus points are the cold (brr!) and sometimes I get a bit bored (though frankly that's my fault really!). Our ADSL connection (Westnet) is decent enough (1.5Mb). My wife and I are both freelance Web developers and haven't had any problems. Of course broadband in general is due for a massive shakeup soon with the government's plans. In theory Robbo should qualify for the super-fast fibre (it just about has over 1,000 residents) but we'll see! If it doesn't then we'll be on satellite I guess. @James: Good point! The pie shop is an institution in itself. :) @Mark: Thanks for your comment – I’m glad you’re finding the blog helpful. :)

Living anywhere has its ups and downs, but on balance we’re pretty happy here in Robbo. The plus points are the scenery, the peace & quiet, the lack of traffic, and the friendly people. The minus points are the cold (brr!) and sometimes I get a bit bored (though frankly that’s my fault really!).

Our ADSL connection (Westnet) is decent enough (1.5Mb). My wife and I are both freelance Web developers and haven’t had any problems. Of course broadband in general is due for a massive shakeup soon with the government’s plans. In theory Robbo should qualify for the super-fast fibre (it just about has over 1,000 residents) but we’ll see! If it doesn’t then we’ll be on satellite I guess.

@James: Good point! The pie shop is an institution in itself. :)

]]> By: James http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2049 James Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:18:13 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2049 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Robertson pie shop. That shop put Robertson on the map. :) I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Robertson pie shop. That shop put Robertson on the map. :)

]]> By: Mark http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2046 Mark Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:31:06 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2046 Hi, Good to hear you have settled into life in Robertoson so well. I first read your blog 6 / 12 mths ago and we seem to be aiming for the same sort of lifestyle flavour, in fact i've taken my family of to some of the places you have bogged about on the strength of your comments. I reckon you might be responsible for a mass deluge of whinging poms into Robbo ! at least the pub will be busy ! We've been thinking about a similar treechange chnage for a couple of years and are months away from escaping Sydney. Its good to hear that you have taken the plunge and have no regrets. One question though - as a freelance web developer i'll be heavily reliant on a reliable and fast internet connection - whats the internet connection like in robertson ? i'd also be interested in hearing form anyone's recommendations for getting a satellite provider for out of town places thanks for the blog, its been really interesting Hi,

Good to hear you have settled into life in Robertoson so well. I first read your blog 6 / 12 mths ago and we seem to be aiming for the same sort of lifestyle flavour, in fact i’ve taken my family of to some of the places you have bogged about on the strength of your comments.

I reckon you might be responsible for a mass deluge of whinging poms into Robbo ! at least the pub will be busy !

We’ve been thinking about a similar treechange chnage for a couple of years and are months away from escaping Sydney. Its good to hear that you have taken the plunge and have no regrets.

One question though – as a freelance web developer i’ll be heavily reliant on a reliable and fast internet connection – whats the internet connection like in robertson ?

i’d also be interested in hearing form anyone’s recommendations for getting a satellite provider for out of town places

thanks for the blog, its been really interesting

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2039 Matt Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:09:08 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2039 @Kay: I suppose Robertson is what you might call a "large village" or a "small town". I wouldn't stay there's a huge amount to do in terms of attractions in Robertson itself, but the community is very active and there's always something going on, whether it's a music night or a bushwalk or a movies evening. They have markets on the second Sunday of the month and of course the Robertson Show which was on last weekend. We've made tons of friends here already - about as many as we made in our 5 years in Sydney! Everyone is very welcoming. It helps having a kid as we go to the local playgroups etc. 20 min drive to Moss Vale for shopping is no problem. We just do a weekly shop. In fact Robertson itself is actually better than the supermarkets for things like fruit & vegies and gourmet food items. (I highly recommend the Harvest Ingredients shop in town - their stuff is now on sale in Harvey Nichols and Harrods in London!) Anyway you'll get a good idea when you visit. Hope you enjoy Robertson! If you're after a nice café then I can recommend the Three Creeks (next to the Big Spud) or Café Pirouette (in the shopping village). The Cheese Factory up the road is also worth a browse. Matt @Kay: I suppose Robertson is what you might call a “large village” or a “small town”. I wouldn’t stay there’s a huge amount to do in terms of attractions in Robertson itself, but the community is very active and there’s always something going on, whether it’s a music night or a bushwalk or a movies evening. They have markets on the second Sunday of the month and of course the Robertson Show which was on last weekend.

We’ve made tons of friends here already – about as many as we made in our 5 years in Sydney! Everyone is very welcoming. It helps having a kid as we go to the local playgroups etc.

20 min drive to Moss Vale for shopping is no problem. We just do a weekly shop. In fact Robertson itself is actually better than the supermarkets for things like fruit & vegies and gourmet food items. (I highly recommend the Harvest Ingredients shop in town – their stuff is now on sale in Harvey Nichols and Harrods in London!)

Anyway you’ll get a good idea when you visit. Hope you enjoy Robertson! If you’re after a nice café then I can recommend the Three Creeks (next to the Big Spud) or Café Pirouette (in the shopping village). The Cheese Factory up the road is also worth a browse.

Matt

]]> By: Kay http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2037 Kay Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:25:55 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2037 Ah here's the Robertson thread. Robertson sounds very nice although a population of 1,500 sounds tiny! Fine if everyone is like-minded though. Is there plenty to do? Have you made some friends? How are you coping with a 20 minute drive to the supermarket? Is it something you get used to or do you run out of milk and toilet paper regularly? We're heading to the Sth Highlands tomorrow for a couple of days and Robertson is on our list of places to visit. Kay Ah here’s the Robertson thread. Robertson sounds very nice although a population of 1,500 sounds tiny! Fine if everyone is like-minded though. Is there plenty to do? Have you made some friends? How are you coping with a 20 minute drive to the supermarket? Is it something you get used to or do you run out of milk and toilet paper regularly?

We’re heading to the Sth Highlands tomorrow for a couple of days and Robertson is on our list of places to visit.

Kay

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2022 Matt Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:07:42 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2022 @Julie: yes we love it here in Robertson. Great if you want to live within 2 hours of Sydney and don't mind the cooler weather. The local government primary school is pretty good I hear. Hard to give a cost of living as it's all relative. Average I suppose. I'd imagine house prices in Robertson are less than in SF though! @Julie: yes we love it here in Robertson. Great if you want to live within 2 hours of Sydney and don’t mind the cooler weather.

The local government primary school is pretty good I hear.

Hard to give a cost of living as it’s all relative. Average I suppose. I’d imagine house prices in Robertson are less than in SF though!

]]> By: Bridge Migration http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2017 Bridge Migration Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:51:43 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2017 Looks like you made a great choice! Good luck with the move and starting the family! Looks like you made a great choice! Good luck with the move and starting the family!

]]> By: Julie http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2012 Julie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:10:16 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2012 Have been reading all the great info here, thanks for all your thoughts. We currently live in San Francisco and have 3 small children. We are thinking of immigrating to Australia later this year (hubby is an Brit with an Aus. passport too). We are looking to live 1-3hrs outside Sydney (to make it affordable) and have been researching to start our search when we arrive. Have you enjoyed Robertson so far? Can I assume the public primary schools are all good (i.e. don't need to budget on private school fees?). Can you give an idea on a monthly cost of living? Thanks so much! Julie Have been reading all the great info here, thanks for all your thoughts. We currently live in San Francisco and have 3 small children. We are thinking of immigrating to Australia later this year (hubby is an Brit with an Aus. passport too). We are looking to live 1-3hrs outside Sydney (to make it affordable) and have been researching to start our search when we arrive. Have you enjoyed Robertson so far? Can I assume the public primary schools are all good (i.e. don’t need to budget on private school fees?). Can you give an idea on a monthly cost of living?

Thanks so much!

Julie

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2009 Matt Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:14:53 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2009 Thanks for your comment Annie! Yes, it's wonderful down (up?) here in Robertson. Clean air, peaceful, and lots of space. The little one loves the garden. Much nicer than living in a pokey unit in Sydney! :) The locals are really friendly and welcoming too. Haven't been to Dungog itself but the Barringtons area in general is beautiful, and Gloucester seems a pleasant (if rather uneventful) country town. We stayed there a few nights. Good luck in your search and I hope you find the perfect spot for you. :) Thanks for your comment Annie! Yes, it’s wonderful down (up?) here in Robertson. Clean air, peaceful, and lots of space. The little one loves the garden. Much nicer than living in a pokey unit in Sydney! :) The locals are really friendly and welcoming too.

Haven’t been to Dungog itself but the Barringtons area in general is beautiful, and Gloucester seems a pleasant (if rather uneventful) country town. We stayed there a few nights.

Good luck in your search and I hope you find the perfect spot for you. :)

]]> By: annie http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/comment-page-1/#comment-2007 annie Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:15:07 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/?p=99#comment-2007 hope it's all going well? thanks for writing about your search.....am on a similar one and your piece on Bellingen was helpful.......wondering if you ever ventured around Dungog area? hope it’s all going well? thanks for writing about your search…..am on a similar one and your piece on Bellingen was helpful…….wondering if you ever ventured around Dungog area?

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